Using a Digital Game to Provide Experiential Learning for Improved Understanding and ESD Skills in Science.
Using a Digital Game to Provide Experiential Learning for Improved Understanding and ESD Skills in Science.
Using a Digital Game to Provide Experiential Learning for Improved Understanding and ESD Skills in Science.
Dick Mwera, Heiwa Muko
Abstract
"Experiential learning has been proven to be effective in helping students gain practical and long lasting understanding of science concepts. Recognizing this, an activity was done to assess the effectiveness of a digital game in providing experiential learning to foster students’ improved understanding of environmental science concepts as well as enhanced ESD skills in science. In the activity, 9 pre-service teachers solved pollution and energy missions in a purposefully designed digital game to make a virtual city sustainable. The evaluation conducted before and after engaging with the game revealed a notable increase in mean performance, rising from 79.19% in the pre-test to 97.78% in the post-test at t= -5.847, with a corresponding calculated p-value of 0.0004 (p<0.05). The outcome underscored the efficacy of the game in fostering noticeable improvements in the academic performance of the participants. Furthermore, participants reported an engagement level of at least 7 on a scale of 1 to 10 showing that using the game not only captured the interest of the participants but also kept them actively engaged throughout the activity. This may imply that providing experiential learning through digital games offers a platform for; immersive learning, inquiry-based learning, critical thinking, and enhanced students’ environmental consciousness which is critical in achieving SDGs."
Reference
Mwera, D., & Muko, H. (2024). Using a digital game to provide experiential learning for improved understanding and ESD skills in science. 科学教育研究センター紀要 (Bulletin of the Center for Science Education, Faculty of Education, Ehime University), 3, 105–114. https://ed.ehime-u.ac.jp/CRESE/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Vol.3-No.14.pdf
Keywords
ESD Skills, Experiential Learning, SDGs